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��� Now I usually start out my review with this elaborate description of ambience and views and what-not. But I'm not gonna bother with all that here. I mean, it's just a simple little local neighborhood place. But, yes, it has these great heavy wooden booths with big solid tables and booth backs that rise high enough to give complete privacy and/or intimacy to your dining experience. And, yes, there are these beautiful stained glass windows which almost completely make up the entire front wall. And yes, there is a big, rich, warm bar that forms the focal centerpiece of the restaurant as it makes it's wide u-turn through the center and back toward the kitchen. I'm also not going to bother with going on and on about how great the staff is and how down-to-earth, better-than-family friendly even the owners, Tanya & Audi Knott are. I mean, they're just terrific people but I�m not gonna talk about that. And I'm not going to talk about the rip-roarin' live entertainment they offer starting with Thursday's Open Mic Night hosted by Doug the Madman, Donnie Berkey's now infamous and outrageous Karaoke on Fridays and Saturdays featuring the awesome talents of our own local groups. No, I'm not going to go into all that.
��� What I am going to talk about is the absolute best thing about Whiskers Bar & Grille. Yes, the very best thing about Whiskers, located in the Pines Plaza on Cathell Road off of Route 589 across from Ocean Pines, is hands-down, the food. The value for price is uncomparable anywhere. I mean, you can hardly eat for less at McDonalds but the quality and taste rivals the best of� any of the area establishments. The food is not real fancy, but then, there's really no room left on the oversized plates for fancy once they pile on the abundant portions that make your eyes pop out and your mouth start watering. In fact, I've never had less than a fabulous meal here that also provided enough left-overs for one, even two more fabulous meals at home! So let me tell you about some of them...
��� Candy and I arrived early Sunday evening, (to get there just ahead of the crowd), and grabbed one of the big booths, (there are also lots of open tables if you prefer). In just a couple of minutes we were greeted by Krissy, our server. She was great - happy and friendly and funny, and very good with kids. Krissy took and delivered our drink order, then let us peruse the regular and specials menus at our leisure.
��� The Specials were, as usual, awesome and I couldn't resist starting with two. Offered up were Cheezy Crab Dip, Oysters, raw or steamed, Cajun Pork Fingers and Homemade Guacamole. Soups were Maryland Scallop & Crab Bisque and Winter Root Beef Barley Stew. Salad specials were Chicken, Cajun Mahi Caesar and Lemon Pepper Flounder Caesar. Now I've tried several of these (or slight variations) on past visits and I can tell you they are as scrumptiously delicious as they sound! However, homemade guac was a fairly new one and I had to go for it. Guacamole is hard to get just right but get it right Audi does! It was incredibly fresh and refreshing, mixed with equally fresh, cool cilantro. But get ready for a bite cuz Audi likes it spicy and so will you! Even I (the not-so-spicy girl) did. It was creamy and completely yummy served in a hungry-man sized bowl (instead of that tiny little crock most places serve) with a big plate of nacho chips.
��� My next request was for the Scallop & Crab Bisque. I know Audi's cream soups very well and I knew I would be in for a treat! And, as usual, it was very thick and very creamy, just like I love it! And no huntin' around for the seafood here cuz you can't miss the big chunks of succulent whole baby scallops and lump crab. It's just chock full! Sweet and rich and marvelous, I took my time savoring this luscious treat!
��� The Dinner Specials all sounded equally tantalizing: Roast Turkey with all the trimmings, Eggplant Parmesan, Meatballs & Ziti, Chicken Shrimp Scampi, Broiled Flounder, and Pan Fried Chicken Parmesan. But I went to the menu to try for the first time the Ship and Shore, a 10 oz. NY Strip with choice of crab cake or fried shrimp. Wow! As great as the steaks have always been, this was the best ever! Talk about eye-popping! It was colossal! So thick, I actually turned it over to see if there was any fat on the bottom making it look so thick, but no, this was all beef from top to bottom. And what delicious beef! Perfectly cooked, (I like mine medium rare), tender and juicy with that great grilled flavor. Awesome! The shrimp were jumbo and butterfly fried in a thin, crispy batter to give just a great crunch of flavor before sinking into the fresh, supple shrimp. And you get a full half dozen of these phat boys cuz Audi doesn't ever cut the portions on a combo! Oh, it was a wonderful meal!
��� By the way, with every entr�e you also get a salad, choice of potato, a vegetable and warm delicious rolls served with real butter. No, you definitely NEVER go away hungry from Whiskers! And might I suggest, for your choice of potato you do something a little different and treat yourself to some Sweet Potato Fries. One of my favorites, these big home cut and fried beauties are sweet and scrumptious and, I might add, healthier than the old mainstay starchy potato.
���� Candy, of course, ordered from the Children's Menu which includes such kid's favorites as PB&J;, Grilled Cheese, Shrimp Basket and "Kid" Fingers. Whiskers also� offers kid's Mini Corn Dogs. Remember those? We loved 'em as kids, but you just don't see them anywhere anymore. Candy, however, ordered the Fingers. Only they looked more like the full kid's hands. They offers kid's Mini Corn Dogs. Remember those? We loved 'em as kids, but you just don't see them anywhere anymore. Candy, however, ordered the Fingers. Only they looked more like the full kid's hands. They were, like, flounder size, with a crunchy, mildly flavored batter on the outside and big, juicy white meat on the inside... delicious! Served with those great smiley face fries, your kids (and you) can't help but have fun!
��� Of course, Whiskers offers lots and lots of other great choices of appetizers: Poppers, Wings, Onion Rings, Nachos, Skins and you can get those fine Sweet Potato Fries as an app too! Soups also include French Onion and Chili. More salads are Chef, Tuna, House and Caesar. Other entr�es are Fried Shrimp, Seafood Combo, Crab Cake, Grilled Tuna, NY Strip, Delmarva Chicken - grilled, BBQ or Cajun, BBQ Ribs, and the Prime Rib Special - but this one is sooooo goooood and soooo popular it's only served on Wednesday and Saturday nights! And sandwiches?!!! Well, I just don't have room to list all they offer! There's SIX chicken variations alone! And regular sandwiches from Oyster to Corned Beef, Hot Open Face sandwiches, Pita Bread sandwiches, NINE burgers and SEVEN dog choices!
��� Yes, you just can't lose at Whiskers! BIG family, BIG fun, and BIG, BIG, BIG food at a really small price. So bring the family, parents, siblings, aunts & uncles, and distant cousins... Heck! Bring the whole neighborhood! Bring them all right down the road to the BEST neighborhood place around... Whiskers Bar & Grill!
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